Outside Reading — Tarnished edition
The Grammys Are Built on a Delusion by Spencer Kornhaber It’s been ages since I cared about the selections made for the Grammy Awards (my obsessive tendencies are directed at a different showbiz trophy), but even I can acknowledge that … Continue reading Outside Reading — Tarnished edition
This Week’s Model — Indigo De Souza, “Younger & Dumber”
In the pantheon of great opening stanzas, I would like to submit the following new entry: “When I was younger/ Younger and dumber/ Felt like a flower/ You came to pick me/ From out of the city/ You turned me … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Indigo De Souza, “Younger & Dumber”
Medium Rotation — Strays; Honey
MARGO PRICE Strays (Loma Vista) — The guest appearance of vital Heartbreaker Mike Campbell on Margo Price’s fourth album, Strays, maybe gives a little idea of what she’s up to. The track he plays on, “Light Me Up,” is wholly … Continue reading Medium Rotation — Strays; Honey
Laughing Matters — The Kids in the Hall, “One of these Five Men”
Sometimes comedy illuminates hard truths with a pointed urgency that other means can’t quite achieve. Sometimes comedy is just funny. This series of posts is mostly about the former instances, but the latter is valuable, too. Today, I’m like these … Continue reading Laughing Matters — The Kids in the Hall, “One of these Five Men”
Top Ten Movies of 2022 — Number Eight
The highly meme-able joke that’s been running at a brisk sprint ever since the release of Tár, the third feature from writer-director Todd Field, is that seemingly intelligent, discerning viewers are confused about whether the film depicts the downfall of … Continue reading Top Ten Movies of 2022 — Number Eight
Beers I Have Known — New Glarus Brewing Co. Road Slush Stout
This series of posts is dedicated to the many, many six packs, pony kegs and pints that have sauntered into my life at one point or another. One of the bonus features of living in Wisconsin is that for roughly … Continue reading Beers I Have Known — New Glarus Brewing Co. Road Slush Stout
College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #83 to #81
83. Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Armed Forces (1979) On his first two studio albums, Elvis Costello wanted to keep everything lean and simple. Partially, he was adhering to the punk rock ethos that was prevalent among upstart music acts … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #83 to #81
Outside Reading — Women Helming
For the First Time Ever, I’m Optimistic About Women in the Movie World by Manohla Dargis Writing for The New York Times, Manohla Dargis surveys the state of the entertainment industry’s openness to women filmmakers and, for maybe the first … Continue reading Outside Reading — Women Helming
This Week’s Model — The Rural Alberta Advantage, “Plague Dogs”
In need of some big, room-filling rock ‘n’ roll that’s laced with the sort of dread that can only be inspired by a novel written by the author of Watership Down? Don’t worry, Canadian trio the Rural Alberta Advantage is … Continue reading This Week’s Model — The Rural Alberta Advantage, “Plague Dogs”
Top Ten Movies of 2022 — Number Nine
Understandable as the broadly adopted choice might be, it’s been strange to settle in with movies set in contemporary times and places and see how little the COVID-19 pandemic weighs on them. The fantasy of film fiction has rarely felt … Continue reading Top Ten Movies of 2022 — Number Nine
Coffee for Two 